2008 Woodie Awards
Rams Have Several Opportunities At No. 2
NFL Draft
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
Phones are constantly ringing in front offices throughout the NFL around draft time, but this year there seems to be an increased flurry of activity and discussions as Saturday approaches.
Rumors involving draft picks for draft picks or picks for players are being argued back and forth and haggled by general managers.
Perhaps the biggest question mark right now is what the St. Louis Rams will do with the No. 2 overall pick after the Dolphins signed Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long with the first overall pick.
The rumor is that the Rams are very high on both LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Virginia defensive end Chris Long. If that's the case, they may opt to trade down just one spot and get a draft pick with the Falcons who have Dorsey as their No. 1 target. The Rams can threaten the Falcons with taking Dorsey if they don't trade and probably would take him if they are stuck in that spot. If the Falcons don't trade and St Louis takes Dorsey, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan would most likely be the selection.
The Saints at No. 10 have also been rumored to be interested in the No. 2 pick to take Dorsey but they would have to give up too much to move up that high and the Rams won't want to move back that far.
Another team that may be looking to move up or down depending on how things shake out is the Cincinnati Bengals. At No. 9, The Bengals desperately need help on defense and are targeting either Long, Dorsey, possibly Ohio State's Vernon Gholston and USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. If they can get a deal done to move up without sacrificing too much, they could try to get Dorsey at No. 2 but would probably target Ellis who is a dynamic inside presence.
In order to do this they would probably need to trade with the Patriots, who hold the No. 7 pick and would like to move down unless Gholston falls to them. The Bengals would need to get ahead of Baltimore at No. 8 because they will take Ellis if he is there. It looks as if Cincinnati is holding on to Chad Johnson so they will not have those extra picks to deal with, which may mean a more conservative draft strategy.
Rumors involving draft picks for draft picks or picks for players are being argued back and forth and haggled by general managers.
Perhaps the biggest question mark right now is what the St. Louis Rams will do with the No. 2 overall pick after the Dolphins signed Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long with the first overall pick.
The rumor is that the Rams are very high on both LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Virginia defensive end Chris Long. If that's the case, they may opt to trade down just one spot and get a draft pick with the Falcons who have Dorsey as their No. 1 target. The Rams can threaten the Falcons with taking Dorsey if they don't trade and probably would take him if they are stuck in that spot. If the Falcons don't trade and St Louis takes Dorsey, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan would most likely be the selection.
The Saints at No. 10 have also been rumored to be interested in the No. 2 pick to take Dorsey but they would have to give up too much to move up that high and the Rams won't want to move back that far.
Another team that may be looking to move up or down depending on how things shake out is the Cincinnati Bengals. At No. 9, The Bengals desperately need help on defense and are targeting either Long, Dorsey, possibly Ohio State's Vernon Gholston and USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. If they can get a deal done to move up without sacrificing too much, they could try to get Dorsey at No. 2 but would probably target Ellis who is a dynamic inside presence.
In order to do this they would probably need to trade with the Patriots, who hold the No. 7 pick and would like to move down unless Gholston falls to them. The Bengals would need to get ahead of Baltimore at No. 8 because they will take Ellis if he is there. It looks as if Cincinnati is holding on to Chad Johnson so they will not have those extra picks to deal with, which may mean a more conservative draft strategy.
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